A thug who bit off a man's ear after they clashed at a pub has been jailed for three years.

After sinking his teeth into Gavin Austin, Tony Gibson spat out the flesh and told him: "There's your ear, mate."

Maidstone Crown Court heard the victim was at the William Harvey Inn at Church Road, Willesborough, Ashford, on April 23 last year with his girlfriend.

While sitting out in the garden, he saw some men together and recognised 29-year-old Gibson.

Bridget Todd, prosecuting, said while Mr Austin was in the toilets, father-of-two Gibson barged past him.

Back in the garden, Mr Austin felt Gibson was smirking at him and went over to confront him. They had words and there was a struggle.

Gibson managed to get the victim in a headlock and they ended up on the ground. It was then that Mr Austin's ear was bitten.

"He heard his girlfriend screaming," said Miss Todd. "He managed to get to his feet. He saw the defendant walk back to his table and spit something out.

"The defendant said: "There's your ear, mate." Mr Austin walked to the car park to get a car jack. He felt there might be further violence."

When he returned he saw that Gibson's shirt was covered in blood. He changed it and left.

Miss Todd said Mr Austin's girlfriend and friends recovered the missing ear part and put it in ice. They took it with the victim to the William Harvey Hospital.

Surgeons attempted to re-attach the flesh but it was later found to be "dead" and Mr Austin was left permanently disfigured.

Gibson, of no fixed address, admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Judge Martin Joy said he accepted Gibson acted in self-defence, but added it went over the top.

"The injuries are quite severe," he said. "That is an understatement quite clearly.

Quite clearly you have anger management problems."